The Wonderful Love of God!

How many times have you given up on someone, thinking it was "useless" to try any longer? How many times disappointment has turned to bitterness and you have walked away, thinking, "no more"?
How many times we have been the source of disappointment to the One who loves us the most?

"If God were like us, we would expect to hear him say, 'Let the world go; let Satan have it for his own.' But I am so thankful that God is not like man. He so loved the creatures of his care that he provided a way by which they might be brought back to their Eden home. But at what an immense cost was this provision made! It was no less than by giving up his own dear Son, who was equal to himself, to bear the penalty of the transgressor....
We should consider that it was not merely to accomplish the redemption of man that Christ came to earth; it was not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God as it should be regarded; but it was to demonstrate to all the worlds that God's law is unchangeable, and that the wages of sin is death....When you look at the cross of Calvary, you cannot doubt God's love or his willingness to save. He has worlds upon worlds that give him divine honor, and heaven and all the universe would have been just as happy if he had left this world to perish; but so great was his love for the fallen race that he gave his own dear Son to die that they might be redeemed from eternal death. As we see the care, the love, that God has for us, let us respond to it; let us give to Jesus all the powers of our being, fighting manfully the battles of the Lord. We cannot afford to lose our souls; we cannot afford to sin against God. Life, eternal life in the kingdom of glory, is worth everything. But if
we would obtain this precious boon, we must live a life of obedience to all of God's requirements; we must carry out the principles of the Christian religion in our daily life." RH, March 9, 1886.

"Christ sought to teach the disciples the truth that in God's kingdom there are no territorial lines, no caste, no aristocracy; that they must go to all nations, bearing to them the message of a Saviour's love. But not until later did they realize in all its fullness that God 'hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.' Acts 17:26, 27." Acts of the Apostles, 20.

"He spoke to them also words of hope and courage. "Let not your heart be troubled," He said; "ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." John 14:1-4. For your sake I came into the world; for you I have been working.When I go away I shall still work earnestly for you. I came to the world to reveal Myself to you, that you might believe. I go to My Father and yours to co-operate with Him in your behalf." Acts of the Apostles, 22.

"We need no fanciful teaching regarding the personality of God. What God desires us to know of Him is revealed in His word and His works. The beautiful things of nature reveal His character and His power as Creator. They are His gift to the race, to show His power, and to show that He is a God of love. But no one is authorized to say that God Himself in person is in flower or leaf or tree. These things are God's handiwork, revealing His love for mankind. Christ is the perfect revelation of God." Medical Ministry, 94.

"Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by him who knows what is best, and who plans for the good of his creatures. The path of transgression leads to misery and destruction; but wisdom's "ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." [Proverbs 3:17.]" Christian Education, 68.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

In one of His most impressive lessons Christ says, 'Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. . . .' The Great Teacher is here leading out minds to understand the parental care and love which God has for His children. He directs them to observe the birds flitting from tree to tree, or skimming upon the bosom of the lake, without a flutter of distrust or fear. God's eye is upon these little creatures; He provides them food; He answers all their simple wants. Jesus inquires, "Are ye not much better than they?" . . . If God cares for and preserves the little birds, will He not have far greater love and care for the creatures formed in His image?" In Heavenly Places, 114.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.

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Alone in the Crowd

Better Than Rubies. . .

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11.

"The gift of Christ reveals the Father's heart. . . .It declares that while God's hatred for sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death." The desire of Ages, p. 57.

"The whole treasury of heave is open to those He seeks to save. Having collected the riches of the universe, and laid open the resources of infinite power, He gives them all into the hands of Christ, and says, All thse are for man." The Desire of Ages, p. 57.

"In securing treasure in heaven, we place ourselves in living connection with God, who owns all the treasures of earth, and supplies all temporal mercies that are essential for life. Every soul may secure the eternal inheritance. The Lord opens the fact before His people that there is full room for the exercise of their faculties, for the fulfillment of their loftiest aims, for the acquirements of the choicest and most enduring treasure. They may lay up treasures where neither fire nor flood nor any
manner of adversity can touch." Lift Him Up, p. 128.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:1, 2.

The ancient Chinese were the first to use paper money. Back in the year 812, one of their emperors decided to use paper notes as currency to resolve the problem of a temporary shortage of coins made of copper.
For his subjects who didn't know how to read, the paper notes depicted the number of coins they were worth and also carried with them the assurance that they could be traded in for actual coins. I guess the idea "took" and yet, when Marco Polo returned to Italy from China, telling people in Europe that the Chinese used paper for money, the people didn't believe him!

Throughout history, things like silver, gold, pearls and precious stones have been considered more valuable than paper money. Yet the Bible affirms that "wisdom is better than rubies."

"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Proverbs 8:11.

When you desperately need to make adecision and you do not want or cannot afford to make a mistake, wisdom is better than rubies!

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." Proverbs 3:13.

The wisest man that ever lived continued saying:

"For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold." Proverbs 3:14.

"There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel."

Every important decision in life requires wisdom, this currency is also important as a starting point even to make a business work! Both in temporal as well as in spiritual matters, wisdom is of the utmost importance.

Where can a wisdom like that be found?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." Psalm 11:10.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Probers 9:10.

Currencies come and go, valuable ancient money for the most part cannot even be found today, it has to be searched for (sometimes for years) and dug out. What is money that will last?
The highest ransom ever put together and paid for anything was the life of Jesus, paid for our redemption so that we can live eternally and enjoy real imperishable riches.
Finding this treasure, which the Bible calls the pearl of great price, is true wisdom!

"For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD." Proverbs 8:35.

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9.

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Riches of His Grace

With the Voice of Praise. . .

"Nature's ten thousand voices speak His praise. In earth, and air and sky, with their marvellous tint and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or softly blended in harmony, we behold His glory.
The everlasting hills tell us of His power. The trees wave their green banners in the sunlight, and point us upward to their Creator. The flowers that gem the earth with their beauty whisper to us of Eden and fill us with longings ofr its unfading loveliness. The living green that carpets the brown earth tell us of God's care for the humblest of His creatures. The caves of the sea and the depths of the earth reveal His treasures.
He who placed the pearls in the ocean and the amethyst and the chrysolite among the rocks is a lover of the beautiful. The sun rising in the heaves is the representative of Him who is the light and life of all that He has made. All the brightness and beauty that adorn the earth and light up the heavens speak of God." Good Health, August, 1882.

"I will love thee, O Lord, y strength. The lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom
I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." Psalm 18:1-3.

"Let us treasure up every blessing, every heaven-sent ray of light in warnings, in reproofs, in tokens of mercy given unto us. Let us not be among those who lightly regard God's forbearance." -R.H., May 2, 1893.

"Great peace have they that love thy law:and nothing shall offend them." Psalm 119:165.

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." 1 Peter 2:6.

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8.

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." Psalm 9:8-9.

"The smallest thing we do, if done to please God is sure to be paid for in heaven's money." —R.H.

"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4.

"The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." Psalm 34:17.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:2-5.